Yes, Virginia, There is a Brad Pitt

Really nice coverage by TreeHugger of Brad Pitt’s appearance at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) this week. The piece includes a few example renderings of the green, affordable homes being designed and built for residents of New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward as part of Pitt’s Make It Right Project (MIR) there. But the most compelling images perhaps are those of Brad with Bill Clinton and some of the MIR recipients on stage during the event. The photos say it all.

For his article, “How Brad Pitt Could Spark a Green Building Revolution”, Brian Merchant also sat down with Tom Darden of MIR and USGBC’s Rick Fedrizzi to discuss the broader significance of Make It Right and what it could mean for the green built environment. He writes:

“Everyone wins – New Orleans residents who tragically lost their homes get help moving back to their hometown. They'll live in great green homes (and save hundreds of dollars on their electric bills). The world gets an example of how green building is indisputable future of development. And that's how Brad Pitt (and Fedrizzi and Darden, of course) may help ignite a green building revolution.”

The CGI also offers this video of the 2009 Infrastructure Special Session and a short video of the MIR initiative, featuring interviews with Robert Green and other Lower Ninth Ward residents. It's a long session - the good stuff starts at the 4:07 mark.